The Reason We Fail

April 1, 2019

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23

When you get to the end of the month do you find yourself a little short and wonder where all your money went? It’s probably because of all the money you spent on things you didn’t really need because of a lack of financial self-control. It might have been because you just couldn’t resist one of Amazon’s Deals of the Day. Or maybe it was all those drive-through coffees and breakfast sandwiches or those restaurant lunches with co-workers. The problem is that when you’re spending just a few dollars it doesn’t seem like such a big deal and you just forget about it.

But the reason you’re running out of money before you run out of month is simple: It’s because of your lack of self-control. You’re making short-term choices over and over based on your appetite of the moment without thinking about their long-term consequences. While it’s hard to make long-term choices, they’re almost always a better option.

It is apparent that our seemingly insatiable human appetites and needs can easily lead to foolish and even sinful excesses if we do not exercise self-control. Especially in affluent societies like ours, the lack of self-control is rampant, as evidenced by the state of our health, our addiction crises, and our financial chaos. The enticements of “stuff” have caused many to desire and acquire possessions and experiences far beyond their needs and their ability to pay for them. Our nation and most of us live on credit, borrowing on time and money, to finance irresponsibility resulting from lack of self-control. For Christians, without self-control, our appetites can easily become our master and lead us into sin, or at the bare minimum, they hinder our spiritual walk and emotional peace. Without self-control, we become easy targets for Satan 1 Corinthians 7:5.

Self-control is not simply a skill learned; it is also a direct fruit of walking with the Spirit. My self-control or lack of it shows the state of my spiritual health.

• Do a simple spiritual checkup with Jesus.
• What does the state of my self-control say about my spiritual walk?